MONS PRISONERS IN SWITZERLAND

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2836, 29 July 1916, Page 2

MONS PRISONERS IN SWITZERLAND

A ROYAL PROGRESS. Chateau. d'Oex, Switzerland. A" second of British prisoners from Germany arrived here' this morning (said the "Daily Mail's" special correspondent on Juno 1 last).. Their general condition was infinitely better than that of those who arrived yesterday. From the moment they left German territory the journey resembled a triumphal procession. They were bombarded with flowers and presents until the train carriages looked like a pantomime scene. At Montreaux seventeen men, most of them suffering from gas poisoning, were detached from the party and sent to Leysin. The men seemed unable to realise that they were once more free. The greater part of them were members of the original expeditionary force taken prisoners in 1914. They included many warriors from Mons, broken in body but not in spirit. . When the first Scotsman in a kilt left the train at Montreux tlie crowd went into paroxysms of delight. "Bravo, Scotties! 7, they yelled until tuev were hoarse. Some of "the' men wore German hats. This they 'were obliged to do, as only those in possession of a full kit were allowed to leave Germany. There were several marines in the party. One had been in a destroyer which was mined oft the Belgian coast and was afterwards rescued "by a Germaa boat flying the Bntish flag. Several bad cases were taken direct to the hospital to Montreux, but the Swiss doctors hope to effect cures in many cases which have been improperly treated bv German student doctors. All ulong the line from Montreui; to Chateau d Ocx the peasants showered gifts and through the open windows. The British Minister at Berne met tho men here, and while breakfast , was being served a children's choir sang patriotic songs. I lie men are now settled .in their r.ew quarters. Manv are billeted in hotels of wide reputation! All spoke, of the excellent work dono by the American Ambassador in Berlin; Mr. Gerard, who has greatly helped to alleviate the prisoners' lot in Germany. '